Streamline-Systems.net Blog
Discussions on the latest Electrical, Burglary and Fire Alarm Systems, Central Vacuum, and home theater TV installation and Surround Sound products and services. DIY installation information. Home products and services discussed and questions answered.Thursday, February 25, 2010
Home Theater In Wall Surround Sound Speakers
Elan MP-650W
Elan Home Systems is a major supplier of distributed audio and home automation components for custom installation. They also manufacture a line of in-wall loudspeakers; featured here is the MP-650W, with a 6.5-inch woven-glass-fiber woofer and 0.75-inch aluminum-magnesium composite dome tweeter. The speaker frame, or basket, is made of the same glass-fiber compound.
Parasound C 265
In addition to manufacturing high-end audio components, Parasound offers in-wall and in-ceiling speakers for the custom-install market. The C 265 falls in the middle of their product assortment and has a 6.5-inch Kevlar cone woofer and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter.
Phase Technology CI-60
The Phase Technology brand was started in 1978 after the company spent many years building loudspeakers for other manufacturers. They now build floorstanding, bookshelf, in-wall, and in-ceiling speakers, as well as in-wall and floorstanding subs. The CI-60 comes from their Custom Installation Series of in-wall speakers.
At A Glance: Phase Technology CI-60
Elan Home Systems is a major supplier of distributed audio and home automation components for custom installation. They also manufacture a line of in-wall loudspeakers; featured here is the MP-650W, with a 6.5-inch woven-glass-fiber woofer and 0.75-inch aluminum-magnesium composite dome tweeter. The speaker frame, or basket, is made of the same glass-fiber compound.
The mounting system uses six clamps to secure the mounting bracket and speaker baffle to the wall, or you can attach the mounting bracket directly to wall studs using drywall screws. The baffle is contoured around the woofer and tweeter to minimize edge diffraction. The speaker baffle also has a knock-out plug for an IR receiver. Tone controls permit bass and treble adjustment of +/–3 dB, and the MP-650W has a pivoting tweeter to direct high frequencies toward the listening area.
Aesthetically, the MP-650W has a tall, narrow shape with a slim profile when installed in the wall. You can paint the grille and frame to match your interior décor.
The Elan has a balanced sound quality, with excellent midrange presence and very detailed high-end response. My newly acquired DVD-Audio version of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours revealed a rather punchy-sounding midbass with good dynamic range, and the speaker reproduced all of the detail in Acoustic Alchemy's "One for the Road" with excellent clarity. I especially enjoyed Jane Monheit's vocals in the Session #55 DVD-Audio, which demonstrated the MP-650W's exceptional imaging and soundstaging capabilities, most likely due in part to the pivoting tweeter.
At A Glance: Elan MP-650W In Wall Speaker
Features:
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 0.75, aluminum-magnesium dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, woven glass fiber
Cutout Dimensions (inches): 7.125 wide by 12.25 high
Mounting Depth (inches): 3.813
Available Finishes: white (paintable)
Price: $550/pair
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 0.75, aluminum-magnesium dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, woven glass fiber
Cutout Dimensions (inches): 7.125 wide by 12.25 high
Mounting Depth (inches): 3.813
Available Finishes: white (paintable)
Price: $550/pair
Ratings: Elan MP-650W
Build Quality: 92
Value: 93
Features: 93
Performance: 92
Ergonomics: 94
Overall Rating: 93
Build Quality: 92
Value: 93
Features: 93
Performance: 92
Ergonomics: 94
Overall Rating: 93
General information
MP-650W In-Wall Speaker, $550/pair
Elan Home Systems
(859) 269-7760
www.elanhomesystems.com
Dealer Locator Code ELA
MP-650W In-Wall Speaker, $550/pair
Elan Home Systems
(859) 269-7760
www.elanhomesystems.com
Dealer Locator Code ELA
Parasound C 265In addition to manufacturing high-end audio components, Parasound offers in-wall and in-ceiling speakers for the custom-install market. The C 265 falls in the middle of their product assortment and has a 6.5-inch Kevlar cone woofer and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter.
Kevlar is an ultra-strong material (also used in bulletproof vests) that provides two important advantages in woofer design: It's rigid and lightweight. The dome tweeter uses Ferrofluid, a combination of iron particles and lubricant that enhances voice-coil heat conduction and dampens peaks in the tweeter's impedance.
The C-265 uses a mounting system with six dogleg clamps to secure the speaker to the wall, and the baffle has a knock-out plug for an IR receiver. There's also a three-position treble control that lets you adjust the treble +/–3 dB. The speaker terminal is a spring-loaded push-type terminal that accepts up to 10-gauge wire. As with the other speakers featured here, you can paint the speaker baffle and grille.
The Parasound had a smooth, natural, and well-balanced sound quality with a very detailed and delicate high end. Vocals, such as those of Clydene Jackson Edwards in "Come on In," were liquid and lush. The speaker's midrange qualities were excellent, especially the piano in Adam Makowicz's "Ab Elegy." There was plenty of mid- and low-bass response in Steely Dan's Everything Must Go DVD-Audio, even without a subwoofer.
Overall, the C 265 was pleasant to listen to. It also handled a lot of power without being overdriven. This is a great-sounding speaker and a real value at its price point.
At A Glance: Parasound C 265
Features:
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, aluminum dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, Kevlar cone
Cutout Dimensions (inches): 7.375 wide by 10.75 high
Mounting Depth (inches): 3.25
Available Finishes: white (paintable)
Price: $435/pair
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, aluminum dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, Kevlar cone
Cutout Dimensions (inches): 7.375 wide by 10.75 high
Mounting Depth (inches): 3.25
Available Finishes: white (paintable)
Price: $435/pair
Ratings: Parasound C 265
Build Quality: 92
Value: 96
Features: 93
Performance: 95
Ergonomics: 92
Overall Rating: 94
Build Quality: 92
Value: 96
Features: 93
Performance: 95
Ergonomics: 92
Overall Rating: 94
General information
C 265 In-Wall Speaker, $435/pair
Parasound Products
(415) 397-7100
www.parasound.com
Dealer Locator Code PAR
C 265 In-Wall Speaker, $435/pair
Parasound Products
(415) 397-7100
www.parasound.com
Dealer Locator Code PAR
Phase Technology CI-60The Phase Technology brand was started in 1978 after the company spent many years building loudspeakers for other manufacturers. They now build floorstanding, bookshelf, in-wall, and in-ceiling speakers, as well as in-wall and floorstanding subs. The CI-60 comes from their Custom Installation Series of in-wall speakers.
The CI-60 features a 6.5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter that have some unusual features. Phase Tech calls the woofer design a Solid Piston Driver with RPF (which stands for Rigid Polymer Foam); the driver has a flat surface that outputs all frequencies from the same plane simultaneously. The woofer also uses a large 1.5-inch voice coil to increase power-handling capability. The soft-dome pivoting tweeter is adjustable to enable the listener to aim it right at the listening area. Phase Tech employs a crossover technology that they call Absolute Phase, which ensures that the drivers are acoustically and electrically in-phase. The company also strives to create in-walls with good vertical dispersion.
The two-piece installation system consists of a separate mounting bracket and speaker assembly, which makes installation a little easier. According to Phase Tech, it also permits upgrading to a better model in the future because all of the speakers in their line use the same mounting bracket. You can also attach the speakers directly to studs with a slotted post on the mounting frame. The back of the woofer is covered with cloth to prevent drywall dust from entering the speaker's voice coil, and the baffle features a knock-out plug for an IR receiver.
I would describe the CI-60's sound as dynamic and musical. Pat Coil's "Sierra Highways" sounded rich and full at all volume levels. The piano in Airto Moreira and the Gods of Jazz's "Nevermind" jumped out of the speaker and into the room. Bass was full enough without a subwoofer, and mids and highs were pleasing and well balanced. Overall, this is a great speaker with a pleasing sound quality that was easy to listen to.
At A Glance: Phase Technology CI-60Features:
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, soft dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, Solid Piston Driver with RPF
Cutout Dimensions (inches): 7.5 wide by 10.75 high
Mounting Depth (inches): 3.5
Available Finishes: white (paintable)
Price: $600/pair
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, soft dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, Solid Piston Driver with RPF
Cutout Dimensions (inches): 7.5 wide by 10.75 high
Mounting Depth (inches): 3.5
Available Finishes: white (paintable)
Price: $600/pair
Ratings: Phase Technology CI-60
Build Quality: 90
Value: 95
Features: 93
Performance: 95
Ergonomics: 94
Overall Rating: 94
Build Quality: 90
Value: 95
Features: 93
Performance: 95
Ergonomics: 94
Overall Rating: 94
General information
CI-60 In-Wall Speaker, $600/pair
Phase Technology
(888) 742-7385
www.phasetech.com
Dealer Locator Code PHA
CI-60 In-Wall Speaker, $600/pair
Phase Technology
(888) 742-7385
www.phasetech.com
Dealer Locator Code PHA
For Professional TV & Surround Sound Installation in Connecticut Contact:
Streamline Home Theaters
93 Whiting St.
Plainville, CT 06062
1-888-841-2815
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Southington Connecticut Man Cave
The Southington Connecticut Man Cave Home Theater!
This basement home theater is a sight to see! Imagine watching a movie on the big screen at your local movie theater, then multiply that experience by at least 500% and that's what this personal home theater produces. The crystal clear 103 inch 1080P picture combined with a 910 Watt 7.1 surround sound system fine tuned for this room with seven large leather automatic reclining seats and theater style dimming lights should say it all but words and pictures don't do this room justice. This theater can comfortably seat up to seven guests all with a perfect non-obstructive view of the entire screen. This theater room is acoustically perfect in every way; the sound produced by seven premium KEF speakers delivers a full crisp spectrum of sound throughout the entire room that doesn't bounce around. Every detail throughout the overall design of this room, including the carpet and sheetrock used was designed to maintain optimal sound quality. Whether it's being used for viewing a movie with the family or entertaining friends during a sporting event, this custom home theater system is amazing in every way!
About the equipment
JVC D-ILA Front Projector - The DLA-HD100 brings Full HD to your home with the industry's highest native contrast ratio. The "native" means that it does not rely on an iris mechanism to maximize contrast depending on the average brightness of one scene. This technical sleight of hand employed on other projectors, effectively changes overall luminosity, so that blacks are slightly bleached in bright scenes, while light colors appear duller in dark scenes.
1080P Video Output
30,000:1 Contrast Ratio
Projection Size 60" - 200"
KEF KHT5000 Surround Sound Speakers - The cool minimalism of these slender cast aluminum column speakers belies the sophistication of the technology that makes them sound so authoritative. Whether you’re watching a film or chilling out to a few tracks, they sound as clean as they look. 100W X 7 Total Speaker Power = 700W
KEF HTB2BL - The HTB2BL is the first subwoofer at this price level that you won't want to hide away out of sight. A stylish, small and inert enclosure is shaped to eliminate internal standing waves and surrounds a 250 millimeter (10 inch) bass driver and matching passive bass radiator. The HTB2BL also features an ultra-reliable high efficiency 250 watt class D amplifier which can play very loud and very clean.
250W x 2 Total Sub Power = 500W
Total Home Theater Cost = $50,000
Thursday, February 4, 2010
About Plasma burn in And How To Avoid It
So you've got your eye on that new plasma television. But you occasionally hear talk of this thing called "burn in". You've got a friend who's telling you how he'd never buy a plasma because it can get burnt in in just a few hours. But how can that be? Everybody's talking about them, and they're selling like crazy. So what's going on?
Before I explain what plasma burn in really is, lets take a look at what makes plasma televisions tick.
Plasma screens are made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny cells called pixels. Each pixel is composed of a red, blue, and green subpixel that's coated with a special phosphor material.
Each pixel is also filled with a mixture of neon and xenon gas. When an electrical current is applied to each pixel, the gas glows and emits ultraviolet light. You and I can't see the UV light but it reacts with the phosphor, and the phosphor emits a particular color; red, blue, or green. The image displayed on the screen is a combination of all those pixels glowing in a particular pattern.
How Does Burn In Happen?
The problem with plasma screens is that the phosphors used in each pixel don't last forever. When they're excited to emit light, they actually get dimmer. The more a plasma screen operates, the dimmer it gets because the phosphors are slowly burning away. Sounds like quite the grim end for such an expensive television but don't worry; it generally takes somewhere around 50,000 hours of operation or more for the screen to drop to half its original brightness.
Plasma burn in happens when the phosphors burn at a particular intensity for too long. The random nature of TV and movie content causes the phosphors across the entire screen to burn at the same rate. But if the screen is displaying a static image for an extended period of time, those particular phosphors will wear out faster than the phosphors in neighboring pixels and a faint image will remain behind.
This is a serious problem for plasma owners who are avid video gamers. The head up display (score indicators, etc.) of many games simply doesn't move and the danger of burn in here is quite real. Others have reported that those annoying network logos you're forced to endure while watching your favorite TV show can get burned into the screen as well.
There have been a few lawsuits against television networks and even Sony to try and eliminate the network logos. So far, these lawsuits seem to be working as more and more networks are using semi-transparent network logos. They're also starting to move them around to different corners of the screen. Hacking Softmods
How Can I Prevent It?
Now there are two camps in the plasma burn in debate. Those who believe that plasma screen's can develop burn in after just a few short hours of TV viewing. The other camp believe burn in just no longer happens in high-quality plasma's that have been maintained properly.
The first 100 hours or so are indeed the most critical for any plasma screen. During this period, you should set your television to stretch the video image to fill the entire screen. Avoid playing video games for more than an hour or so.
The brightness and contrast of any plasma also has a big impact on the risk of burn-in. Most sets come from the factory with these settings set way too high, an attempt to get them to look better than the competition in the showroom no doubt.
When you setup your new plasma, always turn down these settings. Better yet, use a video calibration disk like Video Essentials or Avia to configure your screen's colors. You'll have to lower your brightness and contrast to get your screen colors just right anyway.
Many plasmas sold today use anti-burn technologies like pixel-shifting, orbiting, screen/white wash, and screensavers.
These are good suggestions to follow and it appears that many people who've reported plasma burn in problems didn't follow these common sense precautions.
It has been reported by several manufacturers and analysts that sales of plasma's have been surging throughout 2006. With sizes increasing and prices dropping, how bad can the burn in problem really be when so many people are enjoying them?
Exactly.
For Plasma TV Installation Service in Connecticut click the link and a specialist can help properly install your TV at a great price.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Connecticut TV Installation Experts
93 Whiting Street, Plainville, CT 06062 1-888-841-2815
Streamline Security & Home Systems is a home services contractor in Connecticut specializing in all electrical installations and services. For fast, professional electrical installation services please contact Streamline at 1-888-841-2815 or select one of the following home electrical installation services listed below. As part of a major company expansion, Streamline now provides a wide range of home installation services including home electrical contracting and HVAC installation. Please see the complete list of company services below:
Contact Streamline Security & Home Systems Of Connecticut at 1-888-841-2815
93 Whiting St., Plainville, CT 06062
websites: - Burglary & Fire Alarm Installation - Home Theater & TV Installation - Electrical Installation
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Find The Right TV Installation Company
OK, so you just purchased your flat panel television. You realize that your new 50" is going to be rather heavy to put on the wall yourself….. you think to yourself that maybe a home theater installation company would be the best option here…. for you and your back! Finding a professional home theater installer sometimes feels like the toughest part of your project. We've heard from lots of readers of our reviews and have compiled a list of tips.
Top Tips to Find the Right Installer:
- Select someone locally. There are thousands of professional home theater installation companies across the country. Find a professional home theater within a 50-mile range of your home or commercial installation. You are more likely to have an installer come by and tweak your system, if need be, when you are within a reasonable distance. Home Theater & TV Installation Service in Connecticut
- Before you invite the installer to your home, gauge their pricing estimates. If the home theater installation company primarily works on home theater and multi-room home automation systems for all-star athletes, they may not be competitive when you want some wires hidden and your flat panel mounted on the wall. You should be able to obtain a general cost range estimate over the phone.
- Find out how an installer works. If you have a several room installation and your plasma tv installer is an early bird and is at your home by 7am and you typically wake up at 9am, it's going to be a tough couple of mornings. If you are a neat nick and your professional installer is very proficient in plasma and audio technologies but can seem a little scatterbrained, your working styles may not connect.
- Ask for a link to the home theater installation company's Web site or for some images of recently completed installations. Occasionally, home theater installers will keep a showroom to provide you with living examples of their workmanship. Home theater showrooms can sometimes result in increased overhead and charges to you, which is why it is always good to get a price range upfront. Today, most professional home theater installers are collecting images of completed projects anyway.
- Ask for references on finished projects that are similar to what you have in mind for your home theater and are relatively within the same cost range. Home theater installation companies may refer you to a Web link. This is a great data point and should be used in connection with speaking to with at least one customer with a similar installation project. Ask the homeowner or, if in the case of a commercial installation, the commercial project manager, about how the installation company works and how satisfied they are with the finished results.
- Before beginning the work that both of you agreed upon, the home theater installer should provide you with a complete signed contract that details pricing, equipment specifications, including connecting cables, deliverable dates if your project runs in phases and a payment structure. Final payment should always occur upon completion of the project.
- Ask the home theater installation company for a copy of their liability insurance policy to cover you and the installer if something should go wrong. A minimum $500,000 policy is typically best for everyone involved. It's rare, but we have heard of displays tipping over and breaking by accident during an installation. These issues would be covered under the home theater installation company's policy. If you accidentally break your plasma Tv, it's typically covered under your homeowner's policy. (We also recommend that you consider purchasing an extended warranty which covers any outages of your plasma tv, LCD, DLP or similar display unit. In our opinion, it's money well spent, as maintenance costs remain high despite the reduction in product prices.)
- Find out if your home theater installation company specializes in commercial or residential installations. While similar skill sets are required for home and office home theater installations, adding wiring to an office building is typically easier than adding to your home, although commercial home theater or automation installations tend to be more technically challenging. If you live in a historic or older home and want to retain its antiquity, you and the home theater installation company you choose will need to find solutions to overcome any obstacles found when 'peeling' back the onion of your home's walls.
- While references are typically your best insight into how someone works on their installation projects, ask the professional home theater installer for a general background of their training. Many home theater installation companies have licensed electricians on their teams and may have additional trade certifications as well.
- Many custom home theater and home automation installers only work through architects, interior decorators or custom homebuilders. If you are already working with some of these professionals, you may also want to look here for a recommendation. Ask outright if the recommending professional is receiving a commission or other benefit from the home theater installation professional. If they are, you may want to consider other options for finding your installer.
93 Whiting St
Plainville, CT 06062
PH 1-888-841-2815
Article Provided By: Plasma TV Buying Guide
Flat Panel TV Mounting Options
One of the major benefits of plasma TV is the flexibility they afford in mounting and installation options. Here are a few you might consider:
FLAT WALL MOUNT
Flat Wall Mounts are the most common mounting option for Plasma TVs for home or business use. This option is the least expensive and allows the plasma monitor to remain closest to the wall, adding under 2 inches to the depth. It is used in the home theater, living room, or company boardroom to achieve the sleek appearance plasma TVs are known for.TILT WALL MOUNT
This mounting option is used when placing the plasma TV higher than the desired eye level. A tilt wall mount typically allows 15° to 20° of tilt, depending upon the brand. Commonly used above fireplaces or on the bedroom wall, a tilt wall mount is also just the thing for overhead displays in retail or industry, with or without an attached ceiling bracket. A tilt wall mount typically adds from 4" to 6" to the overall depth of the plasma display when mounted.TABLE STAND
Most consumer-oriented plasma TVs come with their own matching table stand, used wherever there's enough table-stop space to support the TV. These units are custom made to manufacturers specifications as each plasma display has its own requirements regarding how the stand fits the plasma. The stands will generally the plasma TV 2.5 to 4 inches from the table. The table stand allows for a surprisingly sharp look and allows for maximum flexibility, as nothing is permanently affixed to the wall.PLASMA TV CART
Typically used for business applications, this display solution is used for trade shows as well as in-house presentations. It is used often in a courtroom setting or to mobilize up to the edge of a boardroom table for maximum visual presentation. It may include a platform for placing a DVD player, laptop computer, or VCR.ARTICULATING WALL MOUNT
This apparatus uses a swivel arm which folds up when not in use, allowing the plasma to be "flush mounted" like the tilt wall mount. It adds between 3 to 4 inches to the depth of the plasma mount depending on the manufacturer. It is used for maximum flexibility in Sports Bars, library studies, and commercial display operations. Most articulating wall mounts can turn 120° to either side and tilt up to 10-15°CEILING MOUNT OPTIONS
A ceiling mount arm is normally used with the tilt wall mount and provides an attractive mounting options for airport displays, check out counters, hospital rooms, and bedrooms. Though the ceiling mount can be used with flat wall mount tilting the unit downward is normally necessary. Lengths of ceiling mount poles are variable depending upon customer needs. Standard lengths are 24 to 43".LIFT OPTIONS
There are a variety of lift options also available such as motorized ceiling lifts, console lifts, motorized furniture lifts and hydrolic furniture lifts. Lift options allow the plasma or LCD TV to be hidden from view when not in use. Hydrolic lifts are manually operated and less expensive while motorized lifts can be operated using remote control.Contact Streamline Home Theaters for fast TV Installation Service in Connecticut.
93 Whiting St.
Plainville, CT 06062
1-888-841-2815
Article Provided by Plasma TV Buying Guide
1-888-841-2815
Article Provided by Plasma TV Buying Guide
TV Installation Connecticut
One common question people have regarding plasma is, "is the plasma TV hard to install?" The short answer is, no. Installing a plasma TV is relatively easy, there are just a few things to consider.
If you opt to install the wall mount yourself, there will be a few things you will need. You will need a stud finder in order to locate the studs in the wall. Once you've done that you are ready to anchor the mount on the wall using a drill and four screws. You will need a level (preferably laser) to help make sure the plasma TV mount is level. During this procedure, it helps to have at least two people present to help lift the plasma onto the mount. Once the wall plate is installed on the wall and the mounting adaptor plate is installed on the back of the plasma TV all you have to do is hang the plasma on the wall plate and you are ready for your cable hookups.
Running the cable inside wall becomes a bit more complicated and depending on your carpentry skills may require some professional installation. You probably want to hide the cables in the wall to conceal them. This also an easy process but you will need a special device to "fish" the cable through the wall.
For articulating wall mount applications we recommend a professional installer unless you are extremely handy. Articulating wall mounts are heavier and more difficult to work with.
If you are planning on placing the plasma TV on the table stand, it is very easy. Many consumer plasma TVs these days come with the stand already attached. Hooking an HDMI cable to the TV is simple and your ready to go.
For professional TV installation service in Connecticut call Streamline Home Theaters:
Streamline Home Theaters
93 Whiting Street
Plainville, CT 06062 Web: www.streamlinehdstore.com
Corporate Site: www.streamline-systems.net
Article provided by Plasma TV Buying Guide
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